Hacking on your own

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Gorgeous George

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How many of you hack out on your own? If you do would you mind telling me why? Is it because you have no choice, you enjoy it, it's less hassle, your horse doesn't like company etc.

Feeling really fed up
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because I like hacking on my own most of the time, means I can go out when I like, do what I like, and chatter away to George to my hearts content. Since Sunday's fall I am now scared of going out on my own, and although I have someone to go out with in the week I can't find anyone to hack with at the weekend
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I've got some horsey friends but none of them are near me and I don't have a trailer.

I know this is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but I'm feeling pretty down at the moment anyway due to my job being restructured/possibly made redundant
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Sorry whinge over, I'm sure normal service will resume soon!
 
((hugs))

I prefer to hack alone, Lance doesnt, but I prefer it because I can go where I want to, for as long as I want.

I could hack in company every day, but perhaps its the company that is the problem lol.

Trish you are bound to feel like this at the moment, dont rush yourself, only do what you feel comfortable with. xxx
 
I much prefer hacking alone than in company.

My horse can be so incredibly naughty and he's much worse in company as he seems to see it as some kind of challenge to wind other horses up. I also dont have the stress of wondering whether the other rider can control their horse if things go wrong. (Indeed, the last time I hacked out in company, i found the other person had zero control at all and her horse bolted across a field and nearly ended up under a bus when it shot out onto the road at the end).

Im fortunate now that i have off road hacking by way of paths around the grounds of the castle but when I was still hacking in the UK, I wouldnt go on the roads with other people
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I do hack out alone some times, not as much as I used to though, coz Ive got Mum at the same yard with me now.
But I do enjoy hacking out alone some times, just enjoy the peace, plus you can do what you want when you want.
Also, its does Archie good. When I first got him he didnt hack out alone at all, he was just spin a rear and call for other horses, so I do try and go out alone some times still.

Sorry to hear about your fall, I must have missed the origonal post but I did see your icky bruise yesterday!
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Do you have some one that would walk out with you on foot to help you get your confidence back going out alone?
 
I love hacking on my own - for the exact reasons you mentioned above! Plus, you can canter where you want and go where you want etc...

However...my WB is a big wimp and can't go out on his own (yet!) and my TB hasn't been in work for over a year (she's being brought back now). So I don't get to go at the minute.

I'm sure your confidence will come back again soon, try not to get too down
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Do you have a school you can ride in? why not focus on learning something new in the school at weekends until you get your nerve back?
 

I like going out when I like! Although I do make a point of hacking out with others as Paris enjoys seeing some friends.
Are you aright from your fall? xx
 
i hack out mostly on my own. I enjoy it, it's less hassle, i don't have to fit in with anyone else and as my neighbours horse has a bad back and is only just coming back into work at the moment I have no choice but it doesn't worry me.

In your situation I would take it slowly, just do very short hacks and build your confidence and distance back up slowly. If you only make it a 100 yards the first few times it's no biggy, just persevere until you are comfortable again. You have my sympathy though, Jack dumped me one day last year and went home on his own and although I would hack out after it I didn't canter or gallop him out for a few months because that was the pace he dumped at! (we were just 'changing up a gear' and a motorbike revved on the road at the bottom of the field and startled him - fool)
 
[ QUOTE ]
the grounds of the castle

[/ QUOTE ]

You live in a castle
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Sorry totally off point!

I would like to hack alone but at the mo (or when Osc is off box rest) hes better in company. That way when there is scarey horse eating bags he can hide behind someone!
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I would love to hack out on my own sometimes - just take a wee amble through the woods etc - but since my horse refuses point blank to leave the last layby on the road out of the yard without company then it's not an option for me. Think it's a throwback to him being a riding school horse whereby there was always company. I could of course walk him the 2 miles into the woods and then get on and he'd be fine but I'm rather lazy and would prefer to perservere with getting him confident enough to go out on his own.

That sucks about your job though - I'll keep my fingers crossed it all works out okay.
 
I keep my horses at home, so I have to hack alone. I do have a friend I meet up with sometimes, but it's not every time I ride. I enjoy our Saturday chat and hacks, but I equally enjoy hacking out alone as well.
 
Getting someone to walk with you on foot could be a good idea. I had horrendous problems with jack before christmas and dragged my OH up on a few occasions to go for an amble round the paths with us (i also discovered he only had to yell at jack and he'd stop whatever he was doing and behave.. shame it doesnt work for me :P)

I think the key is not to rush yourself with this. You dont HAVE to have out at the weekend do you? Why not do a bit of schooling and let your confidence start to come back. Whilever you're still battered and bruised, it will be fresh in your mind.

Try and take the pressure off yourself. If you're only comfortable hacking in company atm, then stick to that and potter round the school at the weekend
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I like both
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April is sensible and is always well behaved in company so even if other horses are being daft she just ignores them and does her own thing. I only have one other person to ride with now from another farm but we have great chats when we go and the horses enjoy being sociable.

April used to be a bit nervous on her own and would nap so I spent a lot of time hacking with her to build up her trust in me and stop her being so dependant on the other horses.
Now she is very bold and I like the peace and quite of riding just the two of us, it's very relaxing.
 
I quite like hacking on my own because I can do what I want when I want without having to worry about anyone else!
If I could ride I'd bring Osc over to you at wknds and give you some company as you can't be far away... unfortunately I'm a bit stuck at the moment though.

Maybe you need to give yourself some time and get your confidence back riding in the school and then go out a few other times in company, before you know it you and George will be back to your best!
 
I like both to be honest, sometimes its nice to have a natter and some company etc, however I find that there is really only 1 other person at the yard who does the same 'stuff' out on a hack as me. Many are either totally mad (as soon as their horses feet touch anything other than tarmac they are off at 100mph) or totally the opposite, ie will only walk and have heart failure if their horse even breaks into a jog or has a look at something. I like to land somewhere in the middle, ie need to give my horse some exercise whilst out, but don't want him to revert to thinking everything is done at mac 9!

So a lot of the time I do hack alone, as its just plain easier!! Luckily my horse is actually better alone.

I'm sure if you do a few more hacks in compabny your confidence will soon come back.
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I love hacking on my own, I feel safer in a way as you're on your own and have to deal with things, and if anything bad happens you haven't got two horses winding each other up. I've always been terribly independent (I even shop on my own) so I guess that's just carried over to horses.

I'd feel nervous after a fall, I'm sure. But we're here to enjoy it so do what you feel comfortable with and the confidence will come back eventually...
 
I used to love hacking alone, prefer that to in company most of the time as can do what I want when I want and when I can get back to hacking I will do a mixture of both,

Sorry to hear about your job hope all works out
 
I like going on my own because I can do what I want, chill out and not have to make conversation!! I'm a bit anti-social!
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If you worried about falling again could you not just tell someone at the yard where you are going and take your mobile?
 
Lol, no i dont! I wish i did. Jack does however
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Horses are discouraged from being on the roads over here(no laws, but its not considered the done thing to say the least) so we have tracks that run round the grounds and allow you to hack off the roads.

Theres pictures of the yard on my blog (link in siggy) if you want to take a nosey
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if i'm honest i prefer hacking on my own.. not because of the horse, he is good on his own or in company but becuase i like to go where i like at what pace i like.. i usually hack out once or twice a week in the summer for fittening purposes mainly.
also annoyes me trying to talk to people while riding out on hacks (which i like to do) as i am pretty deaf so always keep saying 'pardon?'..
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take it a bit at a time re getting your confidence back out on your own, there is no rush.! maybe go for a 5 min walk to start with and build it up, once you have been out in the week a few times with company you'll start to feel better, good luck
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I have to hack on my own as my horse is at home. I don't really know anyone else as have only recently got a horse again after moving to my boyfriends farm and don't really know any one with horses in the area (get the violins out) I enjoy hacking out on my own but miss natters while out hacking I just have to talk cerys's ears off now!!
 
Shame you aren't still stabled near me Trish cos i hack every weekend past your old yard! (But your new yard and YO sound absolutely fab!)

I am sure it won't be long tho until you get your confidence back up enough to hack alone again but maybe get someone to come out with you on foot in the mean time? When my sister comes out with me on foot (she is training for the marathon!) I find her presence there really helps keep my youngster calm x
 
I tend to hack out on my own, because I like it, I work in customer service, so all I do all day is listen to people & try to sort there problems out & occasionally get shouted at. so I like to spend some time on my own! Also my boy is bigger & more forward going than most on the yard so I find I have to do a lot of waiting for others to catch up ect.

I'm sorry to hear about your fall, I'm sure in time you will be fine, Its bound to take a little time I don't think you would be normal if you wasn't a little worried.
 
I will be hacking my youngster alone this spring (spring now everyone!) I prefer it. I have just moved yards, the YO has show ponies and the one other livery is at college and works flakey hours so there is just me.
Personally I can't wait the hacking where I am now is incredible, plus its the best possible way to get a horse fit.
 
I do sometimes hack Lady alone as she gets too excited to canter/gallop in a large group and also I do prefer hacking alone.
Fudge lacks confidence, so I have only hacked him for 10 mins around the shortest route a couple of times.
Sometimes it's a pain having to rely on other people to hack with as we have to compromise on route and speed as I'm a little nervous after my fall in teh spring and more cautious than some of the people at my yard who gallop everywhere regardless of the ground conditions.
 
i often hack out alone on my loan horses - especially in the summer!

i prefer it - go where i want, when i want, do what i want, and i dont have the owrry of another rider!

but theres a problem with people down my yard,
one is always shouting and screaming and wont let me do anything unless she leads and she controls everything (Indie the cob i loan's owner)
another person her pony bucks and she always moans (like little petty bucks)
another her horse is a little over-excitable and does like to have a buck and a rear and spin round
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and the others are all younger and are very immature.

there is maybe 1/2 people i enjoy hacking with but i do enjoy it by myself. use it as reflection time and i talk to whoever im riding about school, my joint problems, what has happened etc.

Lucy x
 
I only do v short hacks on my own. Usually I go out with a friend at weekends or with my OH on foot in the week. My pony prefers hacking alone with just me and her "Dad" for company. Can you get someone to go out on foot with you at weekends possibly until your confidence returns?
 
I always hack alone- mine walks out at lightning speed and I practically have to strangle her to walk someone elses pace, added to the fact she isn't particularly friendly to other horses and I keep her at home hacking alone is the best solution. Also I don't mind trotting on roads for short bursts but don't trot or canter through heavy ground as she has past tendon injury- most people I find are the other way round. Iam sure you will get your confidence back soon. Are there any hacking routes where you know he won't be able to get back on a road if you fall off- i.e gates periodically along route or total off road hack. I used to get really nervous crossing a really busy A road to get to bridleway because I knew if we parted company after this point she wouldn't look each way when crossing back!
 
I always hack on my own, my pony was really naughty in company, so, it became the norm. Now with Ralph, I still prefer to be on my own, you dont have to listen to peoples moaning (I can do enough of my own
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Also, Ralph is really long strided and hates waiting for slow horses to catch up, also, I like to school when I'm out and hate it when people say 'I must canter in front' etc etc, horses should be able to lead, stay behind etc......grumpy old woman
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With regards to having a fall, you will come right. I fell off Fly quite a few times in the woods and have hobbled off to catch him as he tended to bugger off and leave me
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Your confidence will return honest
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I have to hack alone as does my OH on his horse. We have three horses so it means that one would be left by itself if we went out together - that would be far more trouble than I would like to risk.

It would be nice to have a bit of company but I'm kind of used to it now.
 
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